Lyman Allyn Announces D. Samuel Quigley as New Director

Lyman Allyn enters new era of ‘value to the community’ with naming of experienced Director.

NEW LONDON – Polly Merrill, President of the Board of Trustees of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, announced today that D. Samuel Quigley has been named director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. Quigley comes to the Lyman Allyn after serving as vice president for collections management and chief information officer at the Art Institute of Chicago. He will assume his new position with the Lyman Allyn on May 5, 2014.

Polly Merrill, President of the Lyman Allyn’s Board of Trustees said, “We are thrilled that Mr. Quigley will be the new Director of Lyman Allyn Art Museum. Sam is globally recognized for his many contributions to the arts with a history of leading other notable museums into new areas of excellence and engagement. He will forge exciting new cultural and educational partnerships between the Lyman Allyn and Southeastern Connecticut in general, New London in particular.”

Quigley started his career at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and became curator of musical instruments and associate curator of European decorative arts and sculpture. Later, at the Harvard University Art Museums, he directed that institution’s collections management and technology operations. Quigley was brought to the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006 to oversee the art installation for the Modern Wing. He was responsible for the departments of Museum Registration, Imaging, and Digital Information and Access – a new department using technology to engage audiences and to present the collection electronically. In addition, he oversaw the development of several groundbreaking apps, 10 award-winning orientation videos, Curious Corner – a set of family learning interactive games and contributed to the museum’s social media efforts.

Quigley has chaired several national conferences, has published and lectured on a wide variety of museum topics and has provided mentorship and resources in best professional practices for institutions both here and abroad, most recently, in India as part of the Art Institute’s Vivekananda Memorial Program for Excellence, a four-year engagement by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University.

“It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to serve as the next director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, a special and unique cultural institution,” Quigley said. “I look forward to focusing my professional experience on the Museum’s core activities of collections care, as well as presenting inclusive programs and exhibitions, and building capacity to broaden the Museum’s reach and further engage the many audiences it serves.”

“I’m excited to turn over the reins of The Lyman Allyn to Sam” said Jim Eckerle, Interim Director. “Sam brings to the museum boundless energy and innovative ideas that will build on the momentum the museum has created over the past year.”

Lyman Allyn Art Museum is a community-based museum located in New London, Connecticut. Founded in 1932 by Harriet Upson Allyn in memory of her father, Lyman Allyn, the museum serves the people of Southeastern Connecticut and admission is free to New London residents. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a non-profit organization with 501(c) 3 status. Housed in a handsome Neo-Classical building designed by Charles A. Platt, the permanent collection includes over 10,000 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts, with an emphasis on American and European art from the 17th through 20th centuries.

The museum is located at 625 Williams Street, New London, Connecticut, exit 83 off I-95. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sundays 1 – 5 PM; closed Mondays and major holidays. For more information call 860.443.2545, ext. 129 or visit us on Facebook or the web at: www.lymanallyn.org.